Chewatacon Honours Critical Mass Co-Founder Maren Ahlers 

A Popular Monthly Community Mass Bike Ride

Representing all cyclists in Addis Ababa, Egre Menged እግረ መንገድ’s Co-founder Maren Ahlers received Chewatacon’s recognition for ‘The Best Emerging Engaging Experience of the Year’ for Critical Mass Addis Ababa’, a popular monthly community mass bicycle ride.
Maren grew up in Münster, Germany, known as the ‘bicycle capital’ of Germany. She never used anything other than a bicycle to go to university, the grocery shop, or to visit friends.

When she moved to Addis Ababa, she missed the freedom and ease of riding a bicycle, especially while stuck in the city’s traffic jams. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of Egre Menged Impact, she can now spread the convenience of riding a bicycle in Ethiopian society. 

Co-Founder, Ephrem Bekele Woldeyesus, grew up in Dire Dawa, where cycling was very popular because of the street-friendly nature of the city. Ephrem and Maren together began to promote an active mobility culture in the country. Ephrem has an added interest in the health benefits of cycling. 

Today, the monthly cycle meet-up and bike ride enthusiasts attract a diverse group of individuals eager to participate, from families to couples, including Ethiopians and ex-pats.

Chewatacon, through the Ethiopian Games Association announces winners annually in 16 categories. The Chewatacon Award Program aims to recognize people, processes, and products/services that contribute greatly to the development of the Ethiopian Gaming Ecosystem. Chewatacon aims to celebrate Ethiopia’s gaming culture and explores dimensions of games and play in the local context and beyond.

Egre Menged is proud to have created the remarkable experience of Critical Mass Addis Ababa with partners, Anbesa Bike Ride Addis Ababa as well as other local bicycle groups.

Source: https://www.egremengedimpact.org/ and follow them on Facebook